BIDDEFORD — In a match-up between the defending Class A and Class B state champions, it was the latter that beat the former, as the Greely Rangers rallied to beat Thornton Academy 7-5 at Biddeford Ice Arena on Saturday night.

The Trojans got the leg up early, as they dominated possession in the first period. Alex Lambert opened the scoring for the Trojans six minutes into the game, and Steve Comar doubled the lead with less than two minutes to go.

The Rangers cut the lead in half less than a minute later, as Mitchel Donovan scored for Greely, taking some of the wind out of the Trojans’ sails.

“You’ve got to capitalize on chances when you get them in this league, and if you let a team hang around, they’re going to do what they did,” said Thornton head coach Jamie Gagnon, who called the goal “a momentum-changer.”

And what Greely did with that momentum was flip the game in its favor. The Rangers scored two goals in less than 30 seconds early in the second period, and added another less than two minutes later, making it a 4-2 game.

But just as easily as Greely pulled away, Thornton came right back. Alex Fallon tipped the scales back in the Trojans’ favor with one of the niftiest goals you will ever see. Fallon split two defenders, slipped the puck between one of the defender’s legs, and snapped a tough-angle shot past Greely goalie Kyle Kramlich.

Thornton completed the comeback with a power play goal from Owen Lemoine late in the period.

“I’m proud of the way we responded to that 4-2 deficit, to come back and tie the game up,” said Gagnon.

Lambert said “it shows that we got a lot of character. Nobody ever gives up.”

Thornton took back the lead early in the third period, hoping to put the Rangers away. Owen Elliot was able to push a shot between Kramlich and the left post to give the Trojans a 5-4 lead.

But Greely fought back, and tied the game back up less than 30 seconds later, as Kyle Megathlin’s slap shot from the point beat Thornton goalie Andrew Huot.

Lambert said “It’s not a good feeling” losing the lead so quickly like that.

Greely scored the go-ahead goal shortly after killing off a penalty, as Brian Storey fed Jarod Lavallee for the game-winner.

Megathlin scored on an empty-netter from his own defensive zone to round out the scoring.

Gagnon said after the game that Huot didn’t practice all week, dealing with the flu, and called his effort “pretty heroic” in net, despite giving up six goals.

Lambert said he was disappointed with the loss, but not discouraged.

“I think this a really big building block for us,’ he said, noting that the team was dealt a similar defeat around this time last season, and made a run for the title after that.

—Contact Wil Kramlich at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.